And if having Lonnie DH now and then is considered "jerking him around" to the point where it affects his game, then he's too high maintenance for the bigs.

However, it appears that Hannahan has a chronic back problem, so maybe limiting the number of times he has to bend over would be beneficial. It might be wiser to play Chiz at 3rd, have Hanny DH, and keep Lopez on the bench to pinch hit for Damon or Kotchman if they bring in a lefty reliever.

Mat Latos got rocked for seven runs last night against Cleveland, serving up three homers in four innings, and afterward the Reds right-hander said he thinks the Indians were stealing his signs from catcher Ryan Hanigan.

Here’s what Latos told Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

I thought I made some good pitches that they spit on, with a runner on second base. … When you go back and look at video, a couple runners on second base, they put better swings on the ball than they did most of the time without a runner on second base.

Latos went on to say that Shin-Soo Choo clearly looking for a breaking ball after they changed signs “shows me a little something.” However, he repeatedly blamed himself for leaving pitches up in the zone and in accusing the Indians of stealing signs Latos didn’t actually blame them for doing so, calling it “kind of the idea” and “that’s the way baseball goes, and it is what it is.”

And while stolen signs might have contributed to Latos allowing three homers it’s worth noting that prior to last night he’d served up 13 homers in 76 innings, including five at home against the Rockies on May 27. He’s also struggled all season overall, posting a career-worst 5.20 ERA after the Reds acquired him in a blockbuster deal with the Padres.

Anybody seen this yet? Knowing this guys track record of immaturity it sounds like sour grapes to me. He needs to just go home to his hot wife and let her lick his wounds.

I'll bet they were reading the signs. They hit him way too easily. That doesn't explain the Choo HR on the second pitch of the game, though

From what I could tell all the HR's and Brantley's doubles came off fastballs. Either Latos' fastball was too straight or he wasn't locating it or he was tipping it. Doesn't matter now because we won't see him again this year.